Another "where should I live" thread (Denver, Lakewood: buying a house, buying)

[fubuki]

I didn't really want to add to the ever growing list of like-minded threads, but most people here seem to be very helpful and I wasn't quite able to find the answers I seek. I'm moving to the area in a few weeks from the Seattle area and I'm trying to get a better idea for where to live. I'll be working at the Lockheed Martin facility in Littleton and have limited my search to SW of Denver so far. I'm looking for a single family home in the 200k-250k range that's accessible to transit (for my wife, not me). I like the idea of living west since I plan on spending most of my free time in the mountians, snowboarding in the winter and mt biking in the summer. People have suggested Highlands Ranch or Roxborough Park, but I don't really care for planned communities with HOAs.

I'd appreciate any suggestions.

[RowJimmy]

Be prepared to deal with suburbs, suburbs, and more suburbs then. Just depends what suburb you prefer more.

[Katiana]

Well, now to be helpful. Littleton itself is nice. If you're willing to go a little farther north, you can live in Lakewood, Wheat Ridge or Arvada, all on the west side. There is tons of information about these places on this forum. You can do a search.

[fubuki]

Originally Posted by pittnurse70

Well, now to be helpful. Littleton itself is nice. If you're willing to go a little farther north, you can live in Lakewood, Wheat Ridge or Arvada, all on the west side. There is tons of information about these places on this forum. You can do a search.

Thanks for the info. I haven't really looked at Wheat Ridge or Arvada, but I'll give them a look now.

[RowJimmy]

Originally Posted by pittnurse70

Well, now to be helpful. Littleton itself is nice. If you're willing to go a little farther north, you can live in Lakewood, Wheat Ridge or Arvada, all on the west side. There is tons of information about these places on this forum. You can do a search.

Littleton (suburb), Lakewood (suburb), wheat ridge (suburb), Arvada (suburb). I was not trying to be unhelpful. I am not trying to be annoying. That is just one thing I found about Denver. There was very limited old actual "towns" when you left the city itself. Golden was very cool. Boulder was nice. I loved Denver the city itself. But I don't consider towns like Arvada, Lakewood, Wheat Ridge, Westminster, etc. a town. They are suburbs.

[fubuki]

Originally Posted by RowJimmy

Littleton (suburb), Lakewood (suburb), wheat ridge (suburb), Arvada (suburb). I was not trying to be unhelpful. I am not trying to be annoying. That is just one thing I found about Denver. There was very limited old actual "towns" when you left the city itself. Golden was very cool. Boulder was nice. I loved Denver the city itself. But I don't consider towns like Arvada, Lakewood, Wheat Ridge, Westminster, etc. a town. They are suburbs.

I do appreciate the input. I was thinking about Golden as well, but how do you think the commute would be to LM?

[RowJimmy]

THe bus system there is good. Some people say the public transportation in Denver is not good. However, I heard many times Denver has one of the best bus systems in the country. Also they have a light rail that goes to Littleton, probably close to where you work. I bet any money you could find a way to get there with public transportation pretty easily.

I am not trying to be annoying. I just wanted to tell you, when I lived out there I was thinking about where I would like to buy a house when I got older. I unfortunately didn't stay there. I loved the city, I loved the mountains, I just hated the one thing. The endless suburbs the denver metro has. I was use to the north east that had many older towns outside of cities with cool little downtowns that didn't have a suburb feel. Golden is like that. I would talk to my friends about where would you think of buying a house in a town like that. The only place we could think of was Golden, Boulder, or out in the mountains. Maybe you like suburban areas. THis is just speaking from my opinion though.

[fubuki]

I do agree about the suburbs as I live in a small town outside of Seattle and it has a nice little downtown area, but it's slowly being aborbed. Price and commute are big factors and both Boulder and Golden seem to be a bit pricier.

[rkb0305]

Littleton has a nice downtown and has its own feel.

[livecontent]

I just have to add my say to this thread, because I am a strong advocate of public transit. You have a great option to get to your job. RTD has a express bus just for Lockheed-Martin. It is the 63X and it leaves from the Mineral RTD station.

You can live in old town Littleton,or west across Sante Fe (beautiful area) board the train and on the next stop, you can get a bus direct to Lockheed. Or you can live in near any stop on the southwest light rail line.

By the way the Mineral Station sits on the edge of the platt valley green belt with bike trails, nature center, waterways, connecting trails to chatfield damn. Great area to recreate--and the homes nearby are nice. Check out RTD at The Regional Transportation District Home Page